Kenney Jones: ‘I Would Have Given Anything Not To Have Joined The Who’

Kenney Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year as a member of the Small Faces and Faces, but some felt that the drummer should have been a Hall of Famer years ago, as a member of The Who. The Who’s induction only included the original members: Guitarist Pete Townshend, singer Roger Daltrey, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon.

After Moon died in 1978, Jones became The Who’s drummer, playing on their final two albums, 1981’s Face Dances and 1982’s It’s Hard, which included classic songs like “You Better You Bet,” “Another Tricky Day,” “Eminence Front” and “It’s Hard.” After The Who’s “Farewell” tour in 1982, they reunited for Live Aid in 1985 and then in 1988 at the Brit Awards, but that was the last time Jones played with the band; he hasn’t participated in their many reunion tours in the years since.

Jones tells CBS Local that though he’s proud of his time in the band, he “would have given anything not to have joined The Who and to have Keith [Moon] alive and kicking.” He adds: “We were fantastic friends and great mates. Keith Moon was one of my best friends.”

Small Faces/Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan denies that there were ever any rivalries between the bands, as had been portrayed in the press: “The fans thought we were enemies, like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. [Late Small Faces/Faces bass player] Ronnie Lane and Pete became great friends. I actually speak to Pete and Roger sometimes. I was best mates with Keith for a while, he was a lot of fun.”

You can read more of McLagan’s take on that classic era of British rock and roll in his book All the Rage: A Riotous Romp Through Rock & Roll History. Jones, meanwhile, tells CBS Local that he’s still working on his memoirs. No doubt Pete Townshend will also write about The Who’s early days in his book Who I Am, due out October 8.